Brandeis rallies to defeat MIT, 4-3, on Premo hat trick

Oct 04, 2006

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's soccer
team rallied from a 3-0 halftime deficit today to defeat host MIT,
4-3, on the road. The Judges were paced by sophomore forward Ben
Premo's (Florence, Mass.) second career hat trick.

MIT (3-7) got on the board first in the 16th minute when freshman
midfielder Matt Greyson sent a perfectly weighted cross to the feet
of senior captain Ryan Sheffler, who was streaking unmarked down
the left side of the field. Sheffler calmly settled the ball with
his first touch before poking it past the onrushing keeper for the
1-0 lead. It was the senior’s fourth goal of the season.

It was 2-0 exactly 10 minutes later when Josh Campoverde scored his
first goal of the season, finishing into an empty net after great
work by Alex Morgan. Freshman Rich Whalley had an additional
assist.

The Engineers continued their impressive offensive output on the
stroke of halftime, taking a 3-0 lead through Andrew Bishara.
Following good interplay between Tim Humpton and Chase Lochmiller,
Bishara coolly finished into the far side netting from close range
for his fourth tally of the campaign.

Brandeis (4-3-3) turned up the heat in the second half, however,
out-shooting MIT by a stunning margin of 13-1. Premo was the
catalyst, netting his hat trick before Mike Snyder (Ashby, Mass.)
notched the winner with just under five minutes remaining in
regulation.

Premo got the Judges back into the game with his first finish, a
close range strike with assists from Patrick Meletus (Cambridge,
Mass.) and Alex Zenerovitz (Acton, Mass.) in the 57th minute. He
then brought them within one when he leapt highest to nod home a
deflected corner kick in the 77th minute, before tying the game at
three with another header in the 82nd minute with an assist from
sophomore Kevin Murphy (Monson, Mass.). The hat trick brings
Premo’s total to nine goals on the season and 19 for his
career. He also moved into the University's career top 25 in
scoring, with 46 points (19 goals, eight assists), ranking 22nd.
Rookie Billy Murphy (Springfield, Mass.) set up Snyder for the
decisive goal in the 86th minute.

Brandeis keeper Taylor Bracken (No. Andover, Mass.) picked up the
win despite not making a save, while Tech keeper Tom Caldwell made
three stops in the losing effort.

The Engineers will continue their current five game home stand on
Monday, Oct. 9, when they welcome the Wentworth Institute of
Technology in a game that starts at 3:30 p.m. Brandeis travels to
upstate New York on Saturday, Oct. 7, to take on the University of
Rochester at 7:00 p.m.